Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-01-08
THE WEEK OF Prayer.
Services by the ssptssss and Presby-
tsrfsns Last Night.

The union mectingH the Baptists OF the
| city held last night at the First Baptist
| church was very well attended despite the
| Indictment weather and the slippery p,ve-
meDts. The services were conducted with
special reference to the spiritual needs OF
the young. The exercises began with sol
rited song. and prayer was offered by j.
Taylor EIlyson, Esq.
| Rev. j. Il. HutsoD, The speaker of the
| evening. read an extract from the 18th
cbspter OF Ecciesiastes.
He addressed himself first to the preva-
lent skepticism as TO The conversion OF
children, ard maintained that there was no
warrant for such skepliclsm in the Bible.
| God loves CHILDREN. Perhaps Nineyeh was
spared because Of the 10000 children who
did not know the right hand from the left.
When the law was given one command
ment-the ffth-was given for little chill
dren, and twas the only one Ia the Deca-
logue to which a promise was attached.
The Lord Jesus was and Is tenderiy
interested in children. Isaiah ioretold that
be should "gatber the lambs in his bosom,"
and when He came He took the children
into bis arms and blessed them; or, as It IS
said elsewhere, lie prayed for them. How
sublime the sight,
We ought TO teach and train our children
more diligently aud earnestly In the fear OF
the Lord. Eli did not instruct his children,
and how sorrowiul the consequences.
How different was the case with faithful
Abraham. He was the friend OF God. God
tells us why Abraham was selected for
honor: For | know him that he will
command his children and bis household
Little children ought TO serve the Lord.
"Remember now thy Creator in the days
Of thy YOUTH" This ought TO Danish all
skepticism on this question. They will
either remember or they will forget the
Creator. Childhood Is the conGding age.
They are ready 10 believe. They are ne
elected. and so do not believe.
The speaker enforced and illustrated
these thoughts by apt and coplous reference
to Bible examples and incidents. The
speech was one Of unusual power and
produced a profound effect.
DR.. Hatcher spoke OF the vast opportu-
nity offered in the Sunday-school work for
winning and saving children.
DR.. Cooper spoke Of the blessed influence
Of motherhood.
Rev. Dr. rIandrum expressed the great
pleasure be had had In the meetings.
Fervent prayers were offered by Drs.
Landrum and Tupper.
The meetings go on next week at the
Second Baptist church.
THE PREsBYTERIANs.
The Presbyterians held their closing SER
vice last night in the Fourth church,
large audience being IN attendance. Rev.
J. Calvin Stuart conducted the meeting,
and after the opening hymn offered prayer
and read selection OF Scripture. The spe-
cial subject announced was prayer for
"Foreign Missions" and Rev. DR.. Richard
son offered q prayer covering this great
theme. After another hymn, and prayer by
Rev. w. Il. G. GREGORY an address was
made by Rev. Il. =. Kerr.
The speaker said that our meetings
opened with "Praise" as special theme,
and eliminates with one OF the most i'm.
portant OF all subjects before the Church OF
God. The spirituality Of Gods people Is
testified by their zeal for foreign missions.
Prayer for missions has always been de.
manded. Paul, the greatest OF mission
arIes, sajd Brethren, pray for us"
Surely II this chosen man OF God needed
and asked for the prayers Of his brethren,
how much more DO our labors In heather
lands need the prayers OF the Christian
world; and the beathen nations. too, cry
ont for help. A deep longing throbs the
heart Of the whole beathen world after
light, after God perhaps: yea, :" the whole
cieatic1 groaneth and trayaileth together"
The prayers OF Gods people Of the entire
world. led by CbrIst's own prayer, for the
salvation Of the heathen shall surely he an
swered, and "the utiermost parts OF the
earth shall be given him for an lnheri-
tanee."
This address was rich in thought, vivid
with illustration, and filed with impressive
lessons.
Rev. j. c. Stuart briefly addressed the
meeting upon the need OF prayer for Gods
ancient people. The closing prayer was Of
fered by DIR. Drew, and the meeting closed
with the "Missionary Hymn," and the
benedictiOn by Rev. r. u. Kerr.